Effect of slightly acidic electrolyzed water in drinking water on intestinal morphology and gut microbiota in early weaned piglets

zhifang shilei xi^*ruiting weizhengyang shizike xushuilin gaoxiaoxuan liaoyifang zhangZhangying Yepu cheng

• 河南牧业经济学院, 河南省郑州市, China

This study investigated the effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on gut morphology and microbiota structure in early weaned piglets. A total of 144 healthy Large White × Landrace × Duroc weaned piglets (21-day-old, sex in half, each weighing 7.0 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups. Each group included four replicates, each replicate comprised 12 piglets. The weaned piglets in the CON group drank only disinfected tap water. Those in the experimental groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were given SAEW with available chlorine concentrations (ACC) of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/L, respectively. The formal experimental period 15 days. The results showed that the weight and length of the intestines of piglets in the SAEW Ⅰ and Ⅱ group were significantly increased compared with those in the control group. In the jejunum, the villus height of SAEW Ⅱ groups significantly increased by 13.1% compared with the CON group (P<0.05). In the ileum, the villus height of SAEW Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups were significantly increased compared with the CON group (P<0.05). The villus height/crypt depth ratio of the two experimental groups significantly increased compared with the CON group (P<0.05). No significant changes were noted in the gut microbial diversity. However, the relative abundance (RA) of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria increased compared with that in the CON group (P<0.05). The RA of Firmicutes in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum of piglets significant decreased in SAEW Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups. At the genus level, the RA of Lactobacillus decreased (P<0.05), and that of Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Eubacterium increased (P<0.05). In conclusion, drinking SAEW significantly improves the intestinal development and morphological structure of piglets, significantly promotes the colonization of Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Eubacterium flora in the intestinal tract, but reduces the abundance of Lactobacillus in the small intestine. This might be related to SAEW's alteration of the intestinal pH value. The application effects of more SAEW concentrations require further experimental research.